Sole in the form of a midsole, inner sole or insertable sole for a shoe and a shoe wiht said sole

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a sole ( 1 ) embodied as a throughsole, inner sole or insole for a shoe, in particular football boot, with a flexible outsole. The purpose of the invention is to ensure that for example when shooting on the volley in football or with similar loadings, the entire force can be transmitted to the ball or similar sports equipment. This is achieved by means of a special stiffening of the sole ( 1 ) through tension elements ( 11, 12 ) attached to raised walls ( 3.9, 3.10; 7.9, 7.10 ) of the edge area of the sole ( 1 ).

[0001] The present invention relates to a sole embodied as a throughsole, inner sole or insole for a shoe with a flexible outsole and to a shoe with such a sole.

[0002] In the case of shoes with a flexible outsole it is known for the outsole to bend in the form of an arch of a bridge or an archway in certain loading states. This happens for example when playing football when shooting on the volley. Here, the ball is struck in such a way that with shoes with a soft flexible outsole the front part of the foot together with the front part of the shoe is bent downwards due to the yielding nature of the outsole. Thus, in the process, the sole is bent downwards at the front so that the force transmittable when shooting cannot be transmitted completely to the ball.

[0003] A shoe which is stiffened against the bending named previously is known from German patent specification 196 01 219 C1. The stiffening is achieved in that a front tension band connecting the front end of the sole to the upper and two rear lateral tension bands connecting the heel area of the sole to the upper are provided. The front tension band and the two rear tension bands are connected to one another in the instep area. In addition, the connecting node of the three bands can be fixed by a further tension band running transversely from one side of the shoe to the other. This prevents the front part of the shoe bending downwards, but does not stop the sole rolling. The force occurring when under loading in the bending direction is borne by the instep.

[0004] This is an unfavourable and in the long term painful loading on the instep area as several tendons run in this area. In addition, this design does not prevent a soft flexible shoe sole bending upwards in the area of the arch of the foot and subjecting the foot to an extremely painful loading when impinging on hard and/or frozen objects for example.

[0005] The object of the invention is to prevent the undesired bending or flexing and the loading on the foot in the area of the instep and in the area of the arch of the foot.

[0006] This object is achieved through the features of claim 1 and the associated claim 2.

[0007] The resiliently elastic material used, the raised side areas and the tension element or elements attached to these in their upper edge area ensure that all the above named types of loading are borne by the sole embodied as a throughsole, inner sole or insole and the named painful loadings are no longer transmitted to the foot.

[0008] Further advantageous details of the invention are disclosed in the subordinate claims and are described in the following in greater detail with reference to the embodiment examples illustrated in the drawing.

[0009]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the sole according to the invention.

[0010]FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the sole in FIG. 1.

[0011]FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through a portion of a shoe with a sole according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0012]FIG. 4 shows a side view of a sole with a damping element in the heel area and a special guide for the tension elements.

[0013]FIG. 5 shows the view according to FIG. 4 with an outsole illustrated in section.

[0014] A sole embodied as a throughsole, inner sole or insole is denoted by 1. It is made of a resiliently elastic, flexible material, for example a corresponding thermoplastic or duroplastic, such as polyamide, polyurethane, polyethylene or the like.

[0015] In particular, the sole 1 is made of a long-fibre material with a high tensile strength, such as glass fibres, carbon fibres, aramide fibres, or plastic fibres made of or based on polyamide, aramide or the like, or of textile fibres which are mixed and/or coated for example with a thermoplastic or duroplastic bonding material and produced by a thermal process, in particular a thermal and pressing process, and are possibly moulded, in particular at the same time as the sole 1.

[0016] Production is effected for example by the method known from DE 197 16 666 A1 with the materials named there to which reference is expressly made here. Thus, for example, the pattern to be pressed is produced on an automatic stitching machine, whereby an endless strand of carbon fibres and/or glass fibres and/or aramide fibres for example mixed with thermoplastically deformable plastic powder and wound on a reel is laid on a carrier material and secured roughly with zigzag stitches so that the strand adheres to the carrier in the desired previously calculated position. The carrier material can be a textile material or a plastic material which is present for example in the form of a woven or knitted fabric or a plastic film or a fibre mat. The quantity of threads or fibres and/or the pattern, i.e. the geometric configuration and the spacings of one or more strands, depends on the previously defined and calculated properties of the finished sole. After completion of the “stitching operations”, the practically two-dimensional, i.e. flat, mats thus obtained are transformed in to a three-dimensional structure by means of heat of for example 230° C. to 260° C. and by means of a defined moulding tool. In the process, the plastic powder (microgranulate) contained in the strands melts and solidifies in the desired form as it cools. When the plastic melts, it combines with the fibres of the strand and then achieves the stiffening effect, like a synthetic resin in composite materials, when it cools. During this process the carrier material preferably also melts and residues which may be protruding are removed when the sole is processed further.

[0017] However, the sole 1 can also be produced by other methods, for example by a direct injection or injection moulding process, a stamping process or the like. The material for the sole 1 can preferably be transparent or translucent. At least one of its surfaces can be smooth, polished or roughened.

[0018] The sole 1 is made resiliently elastic in the heel area 2 of the heel cup 3 over the area 4 of the arch of the foot, in particular a web area, to the ball area 5 of the ball of the foot, i.e. roughly to the start of the front sole area 6 of the front of the sole 7, but practically rigid so that it can barely be bent if at all under normal loading. This rigidity is determined by the material thickness and the choice of the material for the fibres and the bonding material. On the other hand, the ball area 5 and the front of the sole 7 are adjusted so that they can be bent in a resilient elastic manner by an appropriate choice of the thickness of the material and possibly by providing openings 8.

[0019] Both the heel area 2 or the heel cup 3 and the front part of the sole 7 are provided with edges in the form of walls raised approximately 0.5 cm to 2 cm vertically or obliquely outwards on both sides 9, 10. Here, the sole 1 is preferably matched to the contour of a foot. The bottom 7′ of the front part of the sole 7 can be curved outwards slightly, i.e. curved downwards slightly. The angle of the walls can be roughly 45° to roughly 80°, measured as external angle α in relation to the plane 7.1 of the front part of the sole 7. These raised walls 3.9 and 7.9 of the heel or heel cup 3 and the front part of the sole 7 on one side 9 and the corresponding walls 3.10 and 7.10 on the other side 10 thereof are in each case connected together by a tension element 11 or 12 of high tensile strength and minimal elastic elongation in the upper edge area 3.9.1 and 3.10.1 of the heel cup 3 and 7.9.1 and 7.10.1 of the front part of the sole 7. As a result of this, the front part of the sole 7 can no longer be bent downwards by a loading such as occurs for example when shooting on the volley while playing football or as can occur when the wearer of the shoe treads on a raised object in the area of the arch of the foot. When this happens, no loading of any kind occurs on the instep of the wearer any more since the entire loading is borne by the tension elements 11, 12 and the sole 1 itself. The heel area 2 can be grasped peripherally by the tension elements 11 or 12.

[0020] The tension elements 11, 12 can be made of fibres, threads or at least one fibre strand. The materials can be plastic fibres, textile fibres, carbon fibres, glass fibres or aramide fibres. These can be mixed with a bonding material, for example a thermoplastic or duroplastic which connects the fibres, threads and/or fibre strands together in a hot moulding process. This process can also be the process for connecting the tension element or elements 11, 12 to the edge of the raised walls. In addition, with an endless tension band, this can be connected for example to the peripheral edge of the sole 1, possibly with the exception of those areas in which the tension elements 11, 12 run freely. However, individual tension bands or the endless tension band can also only be partly attached to the edge and to another part on the bottom 7′ of the front part of the sole 7 and/or the bottom of the heel or heel cup 3.

[0021] Preferably, the front part of the sole 7 is provided with a wall pointing upwards continuously from one side 9 around the point 13 to the other side 10, i.e. embodied roughly shell-shaped. This produces additional stiffening which further assists the desired effect. Here, the raised edge or the raised wall in the ball area 5 can be higher than towards the front in the direction of the point 13. The bottom 7′ of the front part of the sole 7 can be provided with at least one reinforcing bead 7.2. The bead or beads preferably run in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the sole 1 and are angled downwards.

[0022] Advantageously, the web area 4 is relatively narrow due to lateral, in particular curved recesses 14 and 15 respectively. The width of the web area 4 is advantageously roughly ⅕ to ¾ of the maximum width of the heel area 2 or heel cup 3. Through the recesses 14, 15, the tension elements 11, 12 in the area 4 of the arch of the foot run freely from one wall 3.9 or 3.10 to the other wall 7.9 or 7.10 respectively. As a result, the foot is not covered by the hard sole 1 in the area of the arch of the foot and yet the front part of the sole 7 is prevented from bending downwards by the tension elements 11, 12.

[0023] The heel cup 3 can exhibit an opening 3.1 in the area of impingement of the heel.

[0024]FIG. 3 shows a section through a heel portion of a shoe 1. An upper material 17 is fastened, for example “strobeled”, lasted and/or glued, on the inside 16.1 of a soft elastic flexible outsole 16. The sole 1 is laid on this upper material 17 and preferably connected firmly, for example glued, to the latter. The sole 1 is provided with a covering 18, in particular connected firmly to the latter. The covering 18 can also be an insole. The covering 18 is preferably made of an elastically yielding material, in particular a foam material made of elastic or elastically adjusted plastic. A foamable thermoplastic or duroplastic can be used as the plastic. A plastic made of or based on polyamide, polyethylene, polyurethane or the like is suitable. Preferably, the covering 18 is matched to the shape of the foot. A sole 1 provided with a covering 18 can also be embodied as an insole and inserted and secured in a shoe.

[0025] The sole 1 connected to a covering layer, for example the covering 18 or an insole or comfort sole, can be laid loosely in the “strobeled” shoe or be connected firmly to the latter. The sole 1 largely performs the functions of the usual sole base and the insole, such as for example flexibility, stability, torsional rigidity or the like, but with less weight than in the case of embodiments known to date.

[0026] In the embodiment example according to FIGS. 1 to 3, the tension elements 11, 12 or the endless tension element can be provided on the inside or on the outside of the walls 3.9, 3.10 and 7.9, 7.10 respectively.

[0027] In the embodiment example according to FIGS. 4 and 5, grooves 3.10.1 and 7.10.1, in which the tension elements 11, 12 are laid and secured, in particular glued, are provided in the walls 3.9, 3.10 and 7.9, 7.10 respectively (see FIG. 1). The grooves 3.10.1 and 7.10.1 can also be provided on the inside when the tension elements 11, 12 run along on the inside. The width of the groove roughly corresponds to the width of the tension elements 11, 12 and the depth of the grooves 3.10.1 and 7.10.1 is approximately 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm. Preferably, at least one lower section 20 can be provided between the walls 3.9, 3.10 and/or 7.9. 7.10, and then the tension elements 11, 12 are freely stretched between them. The tension elements 11, 12 need not be guided around the point of the front part of the sole 7, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. It is sufficient and may even be advantageous if the tension elements 11, 12 end in front of or in the area 21 of the toe basal joints and are passed through transversely under the sole 1 there for example, as shown in FIG. 5. Then, there is no need to provide a raised wall in the area of the point of the front end of the sole 7, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In addition, the tension elements 11 and 12 coming from the front part of the sole 7 can be passed transversely under the sole 1 after the ball area 6 or in the area 4 of the arch of the foot.

[0028] Advantageously, a damping element 23 is provided, in particular on the underside 1.1 of the sole 1 or in a recess 22 of the sole 1 or in the opening 3.1 of the heel cup 3, and connected firmly, in particular glued to or in the material of the sole 1 or moulded with the sole 1 when it is produced. Preferably, the damping element 23 is a honeycomb structure. Advantageously, the surface of the sole 1 made of transparent or translucent material is smooth or glossy above the damping element 23 so that the structure of the damping element 23 is visible.

[0029] With soles 1 which are provided for shoes which are not exposed to particularly high loadings of the kind named initially, it may be sufficient if the tension elements 11, 12 are only present in the area of the front of the foot 6 and only extend from the area 21 of the toe basal joints towards the rear. These can then run transversely over the underside 1.1 of the sole 1 in the area 21 of the toe basal joints and/or in the area 4 of the arch of the foot, in particular in its starting area or the end area of the ball area 6, and be secured to the sole 1 there.

[0030] According to one advantageous development of the invention, a reinforcing part 25 can be attached to the sole 1, in particular to the underside 1.1 and preferably in a shallow recess 24. This reinforcing part is made of plastic or fibre-reinforced material, in particular with glass fibres, carbon fibres, plastic fibres, textile fibres, possibly with a bonding material made of a thermoplastic or duroplastic. Preferably, the reinforcing part 25 is a curved moulding with no interruptions or openings.

[0031] Preferably, the sole 1 according to the invention can be used in shoes in which the upper material 17 is attached and secured on the inside 16.1 of the outsole 16, and the sole 1 is attached firmly as a throughsole to the upper material 17 and the part possibly remaining free of the inside 16.1 of the outsole, and an insole or covering 18 is provided on the sole 1 and in particular connected firmly to the sole 1.

[0032] The sole 1 according to the invention is particular suitable for football boots, for shoes or boots for American football, cricket, baseball, for golf shoes or the like. 

1. Sole (1) embodied as a throughsole, inner sole or insole for a shoe with a flexible outsole, in particular football boot, characterised in that it is made of a material, a material sandwich and/or a material mixture with resiliently elastic flexible properties, and is embodied so that it is resiliently elastic in the heel area (2) over the area of the arch of the foot (web area 4) to the ball area (5) of the ball of the foot but rigid such that in these areas (2, 4) under normal loading it can barely be bent in a resilient elastic manner if at all in the ball area (5) and in the at least slightly shell-shaped front sole area (6) at least transversely to its longitudinal axis, such that further both the front sole area (6) at least in the ball area (5) and the heel area (2) are in each case raised approximately 0.5 cm to 2 cm on both sides (9, 10), and that between these raised walls (3.9, 3.10; 7.9, 7.10) in their upper edge area (3.9.1, 3.10.1; 7.9.1, 7.10.1) on each side (9, 10) there is at least one completely or largely unstretchable tension element (11, 12) connecting these and running, in particular freely, between these and firmly connected to the walls (3.9, 3.10; 7.9, 7.10).
 2. Sole (1) embodied as a throughsole, inner sole or insole for a shoe with a flexible outsole, in particular football boot, characterised in that it is made of a material, a material sandwich and/or a material mixture with resiliently elastic flexible properties, and is embodied so that it is resiliently elastic in the heel area (2) over the area of the arch of the foot (web area 4) to the ball area (5) of the ball of the foot but rigid such that in these areas (2, 4) under normal loading it can barely be bent in a resilient elastic manner if at all in the ball area (5) and the front sole area (6), at least transversely to its longitudinal axis, such that further both the front sole area (6) in front of the ball area (5) and in the area after the ball area (5) to the area (4) of the arch of the foot and also the heel area (2) are in each case raised approximately 0.5 cm to 2 cm on both sides (9, 10), and between these raised walls (3.9, 3.10; 7.9, 7.10) in their upper edge area (3.9.1, 3.10.1; 7.9.1, 7.10.1) on each side (9, 10) there is at least one completely or largely unstretchable tension element (11, 12) connecting these and running, in particular freely, between these and firmly connected to the walls (3.9, 3.10; 7.9, 7.10).
 3. Sole according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the heel area (2) is grasped peripherally by the tension element or elements (11, 12).
 4. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the raised walls (3.9, 3.10) of the heel area (2) and/or of the front foot area (6), in particular at the sides (9, 10), exhibit at least one lower section (20) in which the tension element or elements (11, 12) run stretched freely.
 5. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the raised walls (7.9, 7.10) of the front sole area (6) in front of the ball area (5) are higher than in the remaining front sole area (6).
 6. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the walls (3.9, 3.10; 7.9, 7.10) of the front sole area (6) and the heel (3) are angled upwards and outwards, in particular matching the shape of the foot.
 7. Sole according to claim 6, characterised in that the external angle (α) of the walls (3.9, 3.10; 7.9, 7.10) relative to the plane of the sole (7.1) is approximately 45° to 80° .
 8. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the height of the walls (3.9, 3.10; 7.9, 7.10) from the lower sole plane (7.1) is approximately 0.5 cm to 2 cm.
 9. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that it exhibits a side recess (14, 15) on each side in the web area (4) between the heel area (2) and the front sole area (6).
 10. Sole according to claim 9, characterised in that the width of the web area (4) corresponds to roughly ⅕ to ¾ of the maximum width of the heel area (2).
 11. Sole according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the recesses (14, 15) are curved.
 12. Sole according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that the front sole area (6) and the heel area (2) match the contour of a foot.
 13. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the bottom (7′) of the front part of the sole (7) is curved slightly downwards.
 14. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the bottom (7′) of the front sole area (6) has at least one longitudinal bead (7.2) which is angled downwards and extends in or essentially in the direction of its longitudinal axis.
 15. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the front sole area (6) exhibits a plurality of openings (8).
 16. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that the heel area (2) exhibits an opening (3.1) in the area of impact of the heel.
 17. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterised in that a resiliently elastically yielding covering (18) is secured on it, in particular pressed or glued with it.
 18. Sole according to claim 17, characterised in that the covering (18) is made of plastic.
 19. Sole according to claim 18, characterised in that the covering (18) is made of a plastic foam material, in particular of a closed-pore foam material.
 20. Sole according to claim 18 or 19, characterised in that the covering (18) is made of a plastic made of or based on polyamide, polyurethane, polyethylene or the like.
 21. Sole according to one of claims 17 to 20, characterised in that the surface of the covering (18) is matched to the shape of the foot.
 22. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 21, characterised in that, when provided with the covering (18), it is laid in a “strobeled” upper of a shoe or glued firmly to the latter.
 23. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 22, characterised in that a damping element (23) is provided in the heel area (2), preferably on the underside (1.1) of the sole (1), in particular in a recess (22) or in the opening (3.1), and durably connected to the material of the sole (1).
 24. Sole according to claim 23, characterised in that the damping element (23) is a honeycomb structure.
 25. Sole according to claim 23 or 24, characterised in that the damping element (23) is provided in a recess (22) of the sole (1).
 26. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 25, characterised in that it is made of transparent or translucent material having a smooth or in particular roughened surface.
 27. Sole according to claim 26, characterised in that it is not roughened but in particular glossy on the opposite side to the damping element (23).
 28. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 27, characterised in that the tension element or elements (11, 12) in the form of a peripheral endless strand extend around the entire upper edge of the sole (1), except in the preferably free areas in the web area (4) and/or in the heel area (2).
 29. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 28, characterised in that the tension element or elements (11, 12) are made of a fibre strand made of glass fibres, carbon fibres, plastic fibres or textile fibres, possibly also provided with a bonding material made of a thermoplastic or duroplastic.
 30. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 29, characterised in that the tension element or elements (11, 12) are made of threads, fibres or fibre strands made of at least one of the materials glass, carbon, aramide, thermoplastic or duroplastic and of a bonding material made of a thermoplastic or duroplastic which melts when exposed to heat and connects this or these, and are made by a heating and moulding process, whereby the tension element or elements (11, 12) are moulded thereto or therein.
 31. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 30, characterised in that the tension element or elements (11, 12) extend from the front sole area (6) to the beginning or at most to roughly the middle of the area (4) of the arch of the foot.
 32. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 31, characterised in that in the front sole area (6) the tension element or elements (11, 12) only extend from the basal joints of the toes towards the rear.
 33. Sole according to claim 31 or 32, characterised in that the tension element or elements (11, 12) run transversely over the sole (1) in one piece in the front sole area (6) and possibly also in the area (4) of the arch of the foot.
 34. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 33, characterised in that, in particular on the underside (1.1) of the sole (1), preferably in a shallow recess (24), at least in the front foot area (6) there is an attached reinforcing part (25) made of plastic or fibre-reinforced material, in particular reinforced with glass fibres, carbon fibres, plastic fibres, textile fibres, possibly with a bonding material made of thermoplastic or duroplastic, which also forms or can form the outsole (16).
 35. Sole according to claim 34, characterised in that the reinforcing part (25) is embodied as a curved moulding without interruptions or openings (8).
 36. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 35, characterised in that a reinforcing part (25) is provided in the entire sole area, in particular on the underside (1.1) of the sole (1).
 37. Sole according to claim 36, characterised in that in the area of the arch of the foot (web area 4) and/or in the heel area (2) the reinforcing part (25) is provided, in particular pressed or glued, with a further fibre-reinforced layer (26).
 38. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 37, characterised in that the tension element or elements (11, 12) are attached on the outside of the walls (3.9, 3.10; 7.9, 7.10) of the sole (1).
 39. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 38, characterised in that on the outside or on the inside the walls (3.9, 3.10; 7.9, 7.10) have grooves (3.10.1, 7.10.1) in which the associated tension element or elements (11, 12) run and are secured.
 40. Shoe with a sole according to one of claims 1 to 39, characterised in that the sole (1) is laid loosely or secured in the shoe as an inner sole in place of an insole.
 41. Shoe with a sole according to one of claims 1 to 39, characterised in that the upper material (17) is attached and secured on the inside (16.1) of the outsole (16), in that the sole (1) is attached firmly as a throughsole to the upper material (17) and the part possibly remaining free of the inside of the outsole, and in that an insole or covering (18) is provided on the sole (1) and in particular connected firmly with the sole (1). 